Albino Axolotl

[shivvy_girl]

Hiya everyone, I got an axolotl about a month ago, and he only survived a week
I loved the little guy, so did my mum and dad.

Where did I go wrong? I done everything the guy at the lfs told me to do.

I kept him in a tank (I think it's 5gallons) with a common goldfish, the guy at the pet store said he'd be ok with my goldfish, and I noticed in the store that it was kept with goldfish anyway.

Did he die because he was in with a goldfish?

The guy also said bloodworms were enough to feed it, then when I went back into the pet store after it had died another guy said it should be fed tuna or prawns.

Did he starve?

I had a filter in there as well, and didn't make the current too strong as I read that it doesn't like it.

I also put a heater in because I read that it has to be 18oc but then I read that it prefers really cold water!

Any chance someone could give me a sort of care guide on axolotls, as I would really like to own one, and if it's no good with goldfish I'd buy him a seperate tank. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[demonmagus]

hope this is the right thing, I don't personally have axolotls but I searched on google:

http/exoticpets.about.com/cs/amphibians/a/axolotls.htm


edit: damn you spellings!

 

[shivvy_girl]

Thanks demonmagus, that page was really informative! I just hope that I can do it right the next time

 

[grahamsokel]

The fact you had a heater in there probably killed it.Axolotols are supposed to be kept in cold water and some people even keep them in outdoor ponds

 

[Saedcantas]

Well you can never read too much so here's my Axolotl caresheet too

Axolotl Caresheet

 

[LucyHurst]

You also need to find that goldfish a better home, 5 gallons is about 5 times too small for a common goldfish.

 

[shivvy_girl]

Thanks a lot Saedcantas for that caresheet and to everyone else.

And about the golfish in a 5gallon tank, I said to my dad that it's too small, and he said 'it's not a 5 gallon - it's 30gallon stupid) lol silly me I never was good at telling the volume of something, I was wonderng because it does seem big enough for my goldfish. OK the next time I post on one of my tanks I'll ask my dad first lol

It's on a stand, that my dad made in the living room, Because it didn't look right on the dinner table, especially when we have fish n chips on a friday, poor thing!

Oh and, sorry for posting again, but I think your definately right grahamsokel, I should not have put that heater in! I can't believe I rushed into it, I normally read a lot on the net or books before buying something, but when I saw it in my lfs for the first time, me and ma dad loved it, I need to start using ma head a bit more

 

[j3nny]

Hi, yes axolotls are deffo cold water, I have 6 adults and over 100 hundered babies at the moment lol.

The best site for info is www.axolotl.org it has a fab forum too.

Axolotl and fish are a no no, fish tend to nibble at their "gills" , bloodworms are ok, liver cubes, prawns are all good foods variety is best and eartworms are the best staple diet.

regards jenny.

 

[SherriSixxx]

Shivvy girl, hi. I have 2 lovely happy, healthy axolotls, and you can too. As Jenny said before, the best site is www.axolotl.org. They also have a message board, where you can post if you have any problems with your axolotl.
Bloodworms are a good food for axolotls, you can also give them soft salmon pellets, earth worms etc. They don't need a heater, as long as the water temperature don't go under 5C. They will actually get ill if the temperature is too hot, like 25C or over. Also don't keep the axolotl in a same tank with the goldfish. Axolotls should be kept on their own. Hope I've been some help, and I really wish you luck with your new axolotl. They're such lovely, entertaining creatures

Ps. Is your tank cycled?